Teenager Harry Twite, who made his senior debut for Bermuda last season, has taken a step towards fulfilling his dream of playing professional football after signing for English non-League side King’s Lynn Town.

After a trial period with the Vanarama National League North outfit during the close season, the 18-year-old defender did enough to catch the eye of manager Mark Hughes and earn himself a contract.

Hughes revealed the Norfolk-based club had been tracking the Bermuda defender, who has two caps to his name, since last season and is delighted to have Twite join the squad.

“Harry is a young and athletic centre back who came on to our radar last season,” he told the club’s official website.

“After competing for Bermuda in July [Island Games], he has joined up with the squad late in pre-season and earned himself a contract.”

For Twite, it is an exciting opportunity.

“This is a great place for me to start what is hopefully going to be a long professional football career going forward,” said the former Robin Hood defender, who has been recovering from a foot injury sustained while playing for the national under-23 side last month.

“The club have been great and made me feel incredibly welcome. The interest first came about in May, when I went for a trial match, but then I went away with Bermuda to the Island Games and picked up an injury. I couldn’t really do much after that, but King’s Lynn just told me to report for pre-season in July.

“The manager and chairman have already told me that they want to get me involved playing in the first team as soon as possible and as a new player that’s great to hear.

“Any player just wants to be playing and getting minutes and so to hear a manager speaking like that is brilliant. I’m just focusing on training hard and hopefully progressing as much as possible.

“This is a brilliant step for me. Like any player I want to go as far as I can in my career and play at the highest level possible, so I’m really excited to start here.”

Twite concedes the transition into playing men’s football in the sixth tier of the English football pyramid, has been an eye-opener, but he is confident of impressing in the first team.

“There is definitely a huge difference in terms of quality to anywhere I’ve played football before,” added Twite, who was in attendance as King’s Lynn picked up their first win of the new season with a 2-1 victory at home against Alfreton Town on Tuesday night.

“This league is very tough and the quality of the players is really high. I’ve definitely seen how good the level is and just how competitive it is in non-League in England.

“It’s a really high level, but for sure I’m confident in what I can do if I get a chance. Just training with the club has been really helpful I’m already learning about the dark arts side of defending and how to be more aggressive and intense in my game.”

As well as making strides at club level, Twite is also determined to build on his encouraging start with the national team.

He was one of a crop of young players, alongside Deniche Hill and Sincere Hall, who impressed despite Bermuda going down to a 2-0 defeat to Guyana in the previous Concacaf Nations League campaign in March.

Having already played under new national assistant coach John Barry Nusum at youth international level, Twite is hoping to establish himself in Michael Findlay’s senior squad.

“Obviously I had those two appearances with the senior team and hopefully I will get some more opportunities to play for Bermuda,” said Twite, who is in contention to be included in the senior squad for the next instalment of the Nations League, starting with an opening encounter in group C of League B against French Guiana on September 8.

“There is no greater honour than playing for your country, so hopefully I can keep on doing that.

“I was part of his [Nusum] squad for the Island Games and so he knows my game well. Hopefully him being involved with the senior team can help the younger players make that transition and jump into the squad.”

As one of a growing number of local players now plying their trade overseas, Twite believes the greater exposure can only benefit football on island as a whole.

“I think players going overseas can be really important for development,” he said. “I think going overseas can help broaden your horizons and give you a completely different understanding to the game. It’s definitely helped me.”